Fig-ij



March 10, 1964 G. VONDERSCHER NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENT FORM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 29, 1961 a m 4. m 3

DI 5O 4ea- INVENTOR. GENE VONDERSCHER FlG-6 ATTORNE March 10, 1964 G. VONDERSCHER 3,124,300

NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENT FORM Filed Nov. 29, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F lG-IZ GENE VONDERSCHER March 1964 G. VONDERSCHER NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENT FORM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV- 29, 1961 m L M W F O 1 n n, "Q14 FIG-I8 INVENTOR. GENE VONDERSCHER ATTORN 3,124,300 NEGOTIABLE INEi'iRUMENT FORM Gene Vonderscher, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Cheekmakers, Inc., Glendale, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Nov. 29, 1961, Ser. No. 155,578 1 Claim. (Cl. 229--92.1)

This invention relates to a negotiable instrument form, and particularly to such a form having means associated therewith for enabling it to be suitably housed or enclosed within a confining wrapper suitable for transmission through the mail.

An object of the invention is to provide a negotiable instrument form fabricated from a single sheet of paper stock which has been transversely and longitudinally subdivided to provide a series of interconnected panels, one of which constitutes a printed negotiable instrument form such as, by way of example, a check, or the like. The other panels are adapted and arranged to be folded relative to the aforesaid form for completely concealing the front surface thereof and for providing the equivalent of an envelope for housing said form in order that it may be sent through the mail.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of negotiable instrument forms having the hereinabove described characteristics, which are bound together to provide a check book wherein the various forms may be selectively detached by a user at the time of use.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide simple yet highly effective means for enabling the user of a form to securely seal the ends of the various panels whereby to positively preclude unauthorized access to the negotiable instrument form without leaving evidence that the form has been tampered with.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and as disclosed in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a check book containing a plurality of negotiable instrument forms embodying the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a sheet of FIG. 1 showing the manner in which a negotiable instrument form is detached from the check book incident to use thereof.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the various envelope forming panels are manipulated for the purpose of inclosing the negotiable instrument form within a mailable housing.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a negotiable instrument form completely folded and ready for mailing. r

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on line 6--6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating a modification of the negotiable instrument form embodying the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan View showing a negotiable instrument form detached from the check book.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the envelope forming panels are associated with the negotiable instrument form.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the form of FIG. 8 as it is completely folded ready for mailing.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view on line 1111 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view on line 1212 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a perspective View illustrating a second modification embodying the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a plan view illustrating a negotiable instrument form detached from the check book of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the envelope forming panels of FIG. 14 are manipulated for inclosing the negotiable instrument form.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating the form of FIG. 14 completely folded, sealed and ready to mail. FIG. 17 is a sectional view on line 17-17 of FIG. 16. FIG. 18 is a sectional view on line 18-18 of FIG. 16.

FIGS. 1-6

With reference to FIG. 1, the numeral 20 denotes generally a check book embodying the teachings of the present invention, said check book comprising an upper and a lower cover 22 and 24 suitably and hingedly interconnected by means of a retainer element 26. The numeral 23 denotes a plurality of similar sheets suitably secured between cover members 22 and 24 by retainer element 26.

At the outset it should be clearly understood that the present invention is neither directed to nor concerned with the particular manner in which the cover members 22 and 24 are secured to each other and relative to sheets 28, it being understood that retaining means 26 is exemplary rather than restrictive and solely for purpose of illustration.

With particular reference now to FIG. 2, the numeral 28 denotes a sheet which has been transversely subdivided at 30, 32, 34 and 36 whereby to provide three sets of panels designated by the letters A, A, B, B, C and C interconnected along their adjacent edges. Said sheet is also longitudinally subdivided as at 40, 42 and 46 for defining end tabs D and E.

In the modification illustrated in FIG. 2, panel B comprises the negotiable instrument form bearing suitable printed indicia for, by Way of example, enabling a user to prepare and complete a check. Before or after the check has been written, panels A, B, B, D and C may be detached from panels A, C and D by severance along perforations 42, 3t) and 34.

Thereafter envelope forming panel A may be folded downwardly along perforation 32 along the upper edge of panel B for disposing the front faces of panels A and B in abutting relationship. Panel C may then be folded upwardly along perforation 36 along the lower edge of panel B for disposing the inner face of panel C in abutting relationship with the rear face of panel A.

Panel B may then be folded in a clockwise direction along perforation 42 over the left end of panel B for disposing the inner face of panel B in overlapping relationship with the outer face of panel C, and for disposing a portion of end tab D outwardly beyond end tabs E.

The inner face of end tab D is provided with an adhesive denoted generally by the numeral 56. The outer edge of end tab D is then adapted to be folded outwardly around end tabs E and adhesively secured to the rear face of the lowermost of end panels E, note FIG. 6, and for disposing perforation 40 in axial alignment with perforations 46.

The rear surface of panel B may be provided with a suitable address panel for enabling the completely folded unit of FIG. 4 to be sent through the mail.

The structure of FIG. 4 may be opened by the recipient thereof by severing end tabs D and E along perforations 4i) and 46 which will thereby enable panels A, B and C to be unfolded as in FIGS. 3 and 2, after which panels A, B and C may be severed from panel B along perforations or score lines 32, 42 and 36, respectively.

In FIG. 7 the numerals 60 and 62 denote the top and bottom cover members of a check book assembly 58 containing a plurality of pages 64 suitably secured between the covers, in book form, by means of a retaining element 66.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, each of sheets 6 is longitudinally subdivided by means of perforations 66', 68 and 70 whereby to divide the sheet into a retaining panel 72 and a detachable sheet '74, said latter sheet being transversely subdivided by perforations 76 and 78 for providing panels I, J, and K interconnected along their adjacent edges and each having end tabs L and M.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the inner face of each of end tabs L and M is provided with an adhesive strip denoted generally by the numerals 8t) and 82.

After panel I has been suitably filled in by a user, it may be folded downwardly along perforation 76 for disposing its front face in overlapping relationship with the front face of panel I. Thereafter panel K may be folded upwardly about perforation 73 around the top edge of panel I for disposing the inner face of panel K in overlapping relationship with the rear face of panel I. As clearly illustrated in FIGS. 91 1, panel I is received between panels I and K.

The adhesive portions of end tabs L and M of panels I and I are interconnected and the adhesive portions 81) and 82 of end tabs L and M of panel K are sealed to the rear surface of the respective end tabs of panel I for providing the ready-to-mail packet illustrated in FIGS. 10-12.

The recipient of the structure of FIG. 10 may obtain access to panel I by severing end tabs L and M from the :ends of their respective panels I, J and K by tearing said end tabs along lines of perforations 68 and 79, after which panels I, I and K may be unfolded as in FIGS. 9 and 8, whereupon panel I may be severed from panel I along perforation '76.

FIGS. 13-18 In FIG. 13 the numerals 190 and 162 denote generally the upper and lower covers, respectively, of a check book assembly 98 comprising a plurality of duplicate sheets 104 suitably bound by means of the connector element 106.

With particular reference to FIG. 14, it will be noted that individual sheet 104 has been longitudinally subdivided by perforation 108 to provide a retaining panel 110 and a detachable sheet 112. In the preferred embodiment of the invention sheet 112 is transversely subdivided by means of perforations 114 and 116 for providing panels 0, P and Q, and with longitudinal perforations 11:; and 128 which define end tabs R and S at opposite ends of each of said panels 0, P and Q.

The inner face of panel P may be provided with suittabie printed indicia to facilitate a user completing a negotiable instrument in the form of a check.

The inner face of end tabs R and S are provided with strips of adhesive denoted generally by the numerals 122 and 124, respectively.

After the check has been written, panel Q may be folded upwardly about perforation 116 for disposing the front faces of panels P and Q in overlapping relationship. Thereafter panel may be folded downwardly along the upper edge 114 of panel P and over the free edge of panel Q for disposing the front face of panel 0 in overlapping relationship with the rear face of panel Q.

It will be understood that the adhesive surfaces of the end tabs R and S of panels P and Q will be secured together and that the adhesive surfaces of the end tabs of panel 0 will overlappingly engage and be adhesively secured to the rear face of the end tabs R and S of intermediate panel P, for thereby providing the ready-to-mail device illustrated in FIGS. 16-18.

Access to panel P may be had by severing the end tabs R and S from the respective ends of their panels 0, P and Q along perforations 118 and 120, after which panels 0 and P may be unfolded such as, by way of example, illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 14, in which condition the top and 4 bottom panels 0 and Q may be severed from intermediate panel P along perforation lines 114 and 116.

It will be noted that in the construction illustrated in FIGS. 13-18, the inner face of intermediate panel P is protected by both of panels 0 and Q, each of which overlies said intermediate panel.

It should, of course, be understood that if desired upper panel 0 may be first folded downwardly onto intermediate panel P about the upper edge of panel P and then bottom panel Q may be folded upwardly along the lower edge of intermediate panel P along perforation 116 and over the upper edge of panel 0 for disposing the front face of panel Q in overlapping relationship with the rear face of panel 0.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that I have thus provided simple yet highly effective means for providing a negotiable instrument form such as, by way of example, a check with integral means adapted to house the instrument for enabling it to be sent through the mail.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the structural details, within the scope of the appended claim, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A combined negotiable instrument and envelope, comprising a sheet of paper having top, bottom and lateral edges, the sheet having on one side a first vertical line adjacent to the center thereof and dividing the sheet vertically in two main sections, the sheet further having on said one side transversely extending lines dividing the sheet into three transverse areas of substantially equal width, a second vertical line, forming a severance line, adjacent to and paralleling one lateral edge and defining tabs at adjacent ends of said areas, said transversely extending lines constituting tear lines in the portions thereof extending from the other lateral edge of the sheet to said first vertical line and constituting fold lines in the portions thereof extending from said first vertical line through said defining tabs to said one lateral edge, said first vertical line constituting a tear line from each end thereof up to its intersection with the tear line portion of the adjacent transversely extending line and constituting a fold line in the portion thereof lying between said transversely extending lines, said sheet when divided along said tear lines providing three parallel equal length panels joined at said transverse fold lines and a lateral panel of approximately the same width as and extending from the end of the central one of said three panels opposite from said one lateral edge, said lateral panel being of greater length than said three panels and having a vertical severance line there across adjacent to said other lateral edge of the sheet, thereby providing a sealing tab, one of said three panels having one face designed to receive writing, printing and similar matter, said three panels being foldable, one over another to cover material on said one face of the said one panel, said lateral panel being foldable over said three foldable panels and adapted to have the sealing tab extending therefrom folded across and under to the outer side of the tab of the middle one of said three panels, and said sealing tab having an adhesive means thereon for effecting, when so folded, its attachment to said middle panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 299,202 Cox May 27, 1884 769,536 Dixon Sept. 6, 1904 1,282,443 Lyes Oct. 22, 1918 2,366,575 Teicher Jan. 2, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,078 Great Britain Nov. 23, 1911 

